Date: 1691

"Thus might I have e'ne gone on to Doomsday without their minding a word I said, for by this time the Fumes of the Liquor, which it seems they had been tunning in all that day, conquer'd that little Reason they had left, and threw 'em all into a bruitish sleep."

— Dunton, John (1659–1732)

Date: 1691

"Lastly, [sin] grows into a strong Man, and doth of it self run up and down our Little World, invade all the Faculties of Soul and Body, which are at last made the Instruments of Satan to act and fulfill it."

— Dunton, John (1659–1732)

Date: 1691

"Instead of those sage and grave Notions that used to fill my Head, 'twas cramm'd top full of Whimseys and Whirligigs, by the vehement agitation of my distemper'd Fancy, as ever a Carkase-shell with Instruments of Death and Murder."

— Dunton, John (1659–1732)

Date: 1691

"Let none hereafter dare to blame / The Gods, for making Cupid blind / Lest his offence he plagu'd with shame / And all Mens hate, besiege his mind."

— Dunton, John (1659–1732)

Date: Licens'd Decemb. 22. 1691

"Your Tongue pursued the Victory of your Eyes, and you did not give me time to rally my poor Disordered Senses, so as to make a tolerable Retreat."

— Congreve, William (1670-1729)

Date: Licens'd Decemb. 22. 1691

"The Ladies Hearts, particularly the Incognita and Leonora's, beat time to the Horses Hoofs, and hope and fear made a mock Fight within their tender Breasts, each wishing and doubting success where she lik'd."

— Congreve, William (1670-1729)

Date: 1692

"I have, 'tis true, but to no purpose, retir'd to Oxford, to see if Books, and learned men would bring me any Relief, but I find Philosophy is of no power to root out a Passion that is once admitted, whatever it may to defend us from an Invasion."

— Gildon, Charles (1665-1724)

Date: 1760-7

"[T]here is a regular succession of ideas of one sort or other, which follow each other in train just like--A train of artillery? said my uncle Toby."

— Sterne, Laurence (1713-1768)

Date: 1760-7

"Whether they were above my uncle Toby's reason,--or contrary to it,-- or that his brain was like wet tinder, and no spark could possibly take hold,--or that it was so full of saps, mines, blinds, curtins, and such military disqualifications to his seeing clearly into Prignitz and Scroderus's doc...

— Sterne, Laurence (1713-1768)

Date: 1760-7

"But the heat gradually increasing, and in a few seconds more getting beyond the point of all sober pleasure, and then advancing with all speed into the regions of pain,--the soul of Phutatorius, together with all his ideas, his thoughts, his attention, his imagination, judgment, resolution, deli...

— Sterne, Laurence (1713-1768)